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e very same village； four years before； more than fifty Goram men were murdered； and as these savages obtain an immense booty in the praus and all their appurtenances； it is to be feared that such attacks will continue to be made at intervals as long as traders visit the same spots and attempt no retaliation。 Punishment could only be inflicted on these people by very arbitrary measures； such as by obtaining possession of some of the chiefs by stratagem； and rendering them responsible for the capture of the murderers at the peril of their own heads。 But anything of this kind would be done contrary to the system adopted by the Dutch Government in its dealings with natives。
GORAM TO WAHAI IN CERAM。
When my boat was at length launched and loaded； I got my men together； and actually set sail the next day （May 27th）； much to the astonishment of the Goram people； to whom such punctuality was a novelty。 I had a crew of three men and a boy； besides my two Amboyna lads； which was sufficient for sailing； though rather too few if obliged to row much。 The next day was very wet； with squalls； calms； and contrary winds； and with some difficulty we reached Kilwaru； the metropolis of the Bugis traders in the far East。 As I wanted to make some purchases； I stayed here two days； and sent two of my boxes of specimens by a Macassar prau to be forwarded to Ternate； thus relieving myself of a considerable incumbrance。 I bought knives； basins； and handkerchiefs for barter； which with the choppers； cloth； and beads I had brought with me； made a pretty good assortment。 I also bought two tower muskets to satisfy my crew； who insisted on the necessity of being armed against attacks of pirates； and with spices and a few articles of food for the voyage nearly my last doit was expended。
The little island of Kilwaru is a mere sandbank； just large enough to contain a small village； and situated between the islands of Ceram…laut； and Kissastraits about a third of a mile wide separating it from each of them。 It is surrounded by coral reefs； and offers good anchorage in both monsoons。 Though not more than fifty yards across； and not elevated more than three or four feet above the highest tides； it has wells of excellent drinking watera singular phenomenon； which would seem to imply deep…seated subterranean channels connecting it with other islands。 These advantages； with its situation in the centre of the Papuan trading district； lead to its being so much frequented by the Bugis traders。 Here the Goram men bring the produce of their little voyages； which they exchange for cloth； sago cakes； and opium； and the inhabitants of all the surrounding islands visit it with the game object。 It is the rendezvous of the praus trading to various parts of New Guinea； which here assort and dry their cargoes； and refit for the voyage home。 Tripang and mussoi bark are the most bulky articles of produce brought here； with wild nutmegs； tortoiseshell； pearls； and birds of Paradise； in smaller quantities。 The villagers of the mainland of Ceram bring their sago； which is thus distributed to the islands farther east； while rice from Bali and Macassar can also be purchased at a moderate price。 The Goram men come here for their supplies of opium； both for their own consumption and for barter in Mysol and Waigiou； where they have introduced it； and where the chiefs and wealthy men are passionately fond of it。 Schooners from Bali come to buy Papuan slaves； while the sea…wandering Bugis arrive from distant Singapore in their lumbering praus； bringing thence the produce of the Chinamen's workshops and Kling's bazaar； as well as of the looms of Lancashire and Massachusetts。
One of the Bugis traders who had arrived a few days before from Mysol； brought me news of my assistant Charles Allen； with whom he was well acquainted； and who； he assured me； was making large collections of birds and insects； although he had not obtained any birds of Paradise； Silinta； where he was staying； not being a good place for them。 This was on the whole satisfactory； and I was anxious to reach him as soon as possible。
Leaving Kilwaru early in the morning of June 1st； with a strong east wind we doubled the point of Ceram about noon； the heavy sea causing my prau to roll abort a good deal； to the damage of our crockery。 As bad weather seemed coming on； we got inside the reefs and anchored opposite the village of Warns…warns to wait for a change。
The night was very squally； and though in a good harbour we rolled and jerked uneasily； but in the morning I had greater cause for uneasiness in the discovery that our entire Goram crew had decamped； taking with them all they possessed and a little more； and leaving us without any small boat in which to land。 I immediately told my Amboyna men to load and fire the muskets as a signal of distress； which was soon answered by the village chief sending off a boat； which took me on shore。 I requested that messengers should be immediately sent to the neighbouring villages in quest of the fugitives； which was promptly done。 My prau was brought into a small creek； where it could securely rest in the mud at low water； and part of a house was given me in which T could stay for a while。 I now found my progress again suddenly checked； just when I thought I had overcome my chief difficulties。 As I had treated my men with the greatest kindness； and had given them almost everything they had asked for； I can impute their running away only to their being totally unaccustomed to the restraint of a European master； and to some undefined dread of my ultimate intentions regarding them。 The oldest man was an opium smoker； and a reputed thief； but I had been obliged to take him at the last moment as a substitute for another。 I feel sure it was he who induced the others to run away； and as they knew the country well； and had several hours' start of us； there was little chance of catching them。
We were here in the great sago district of East Ceram which supplies most of the surrounding islands with their daily bread； and during our week's delay I had an opportunity of seeing the whole process of making it； and obtaining some interesting statistics。 The sago tree is a palm； thicker and larger than the cocoa…nut tree； although rarely so tall； and having immense pinnate spiny leaves； which completely cover the trunk till it is many years old。 It has a creeping root…stem like the Nipa palm； and when about ten or fifteen years of age sends up an immense terminal spike of flowers； after which the tree dies。 It grows in swamps； or in swampy hollows on the rocky slopes of hills； where it seems to thrive equally well as when exposed to the influx of salt or brackish water。 The midribs of the immense leaves form one of the most useful articles in these lands； supplying the place of bamboo； to which for many purposes they are superior。 They are twelve or fifteen feet long； and； when very fine； as thick in the lower part as a man's leg。 They are very light； consisting entirely of a firm pith covered with a hard thin rind or bark。 Entire houses are built of these； they form admirable roofing…poles for thatch； split and well…supported； they do for flooring； and when chosen of equal size； and pe